Watershed Connect

Two annual meetings take place this week and Ecosystem Marketplace will be on hand to cover them both. Meanwhile, EM's 2014 water survey wrapped up last week and water cooperation received a boost with Nestle and General Mills signing on to the International Water Stewardship Standard.

Peruvians have spent the last six years developing a comprehensive legal framework for the sticky issue of payments for ecosystem services (PES). The current bill is one of the most advanced pieces of legislation of its type, but it’s been stuck in committee for five years, and will remain so as the 20th Katoomba Meeting kicks off next week in Lima.

Between now and August, we’ll be examining the economic benefits of coral reefs and financing mechanisms designed to help preserve them. Here’s a look at the other side of that equation: what it costs to maintain them, and the challenge of meeting that cost through conventional means.

Ecosystem Marketplace is gearing up for the 2014 State of Watershed Payments report. The report will cover the water energy food nexus and watershed investments among other topics. Meanwhile, EM is also preparing for Katoomba XX in Lima Peru where discussions will focus on aligning climate policy with other commitments that support resilient ecosystems and societies.

In 2008, the Australian government launched an initiative, Reef Rescue, aimed at protecting and restoring the environment. Last year, Amanda Cornwall, a legal and policy consultant, discussed the program advising that it needs to focus in on assisting farmers in improving water quality. That means learning from other successful schemes, she says.

The past month saw movement in the green infrastructure space with an assessment on green infrastructure valuation tools and a $50 million fund slated to implement natural infrastructure upgrades in Chicago. Also this month, two papers from Forest Trends offering thoughts on the social impact assessment of investments in watershed services programs.